Nobody has proposed changing the national motto, but the House is set Tuesday to vote on a bill that assure that the phrase “In God We Trust” stays put.

The measure, which is sponsored by Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Va.), would encourage public buildings, schools and government facilities to display the phrase. It declares that “In God We Trust” and sentiments behind it have been an “integral” part of the United States, and “in times of national challenge or tragedy, the people of the United States have turned to God as their source for sustenance, protection, wisdom, strength, and direction.”

The bill “sends a message that ‘In God We Trust’ is not only written in the halls of our federal buildings, but it is a bedrock upon which our nation is built,” Forbes said in a statement when the measure passed the House Judiciary Committee on a voice vote in March.

Thank goodness. But I hope those House Republicans have the courage to take up the real crisis facing America and ban Sharia law.

It astonishes me how many Talibangelicals are perfectly happy to assert, time and again, that their faith is nothing more than meaningless ceremonial deism with no religious or theological content whatsoever, as long as their brand of meaningless ceremonial deism is the brand of meaningless ceremonial deism.

At one time I thought that the Rs would cleverly back away from the wingers, after they had used them, but they didn’t. I think they have planted the seeds for the destruction of the R party – not soon enough, but at some point Americans are going to get tired of religion being shoved down their throats and the restrictions on their lives.

I too am astonished and even surprised that a definition of which God we trust isn’t included in this very important legislation. Maybe we should call Blankfein and ask him which God he is doing work for?

TDR tried to remove the motto from coins in 1907 because he felt it “cheapened” the motto and took God in vain. He was promptly overruled by congress and the motto reappeared in 1908.

However, it didn’t appear on US coins until 1864 with the 2c piece. And several mottos similar were tried at the mint before settling on that one. Pattern coins with “GOD OUR TRUST” still exist and command strong prices when they come to market.

Why in the hell didn’t they protect the phrase “under God” in The Pledge of Allegiance while they were at it?!? When Sharia Law is imposed, they’ll regret that oversight. Thankfully the House is finally taking care of important things again, though, huhn?

“The measure, which is sponsored by Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Va.), would encourage public buildings, schools and government facilities to display the phrase.”

Exactly what the hell does “encourage” mean?

“It declares that “In God We Trust” and sentiments behind it have been an “integral” part of the United States, and “in times of national challenge or tragedy, the people of the United States have turned to God as their source for sustenance, protection, wisdom, strength, and direction.””

Well, when the government fails the citizen and politicians represent corporate interests over people, who else are you going to turn to? Just to be on the safe side, I’m consulting my astrologist and rubbing my lucky rabbit’s foot as well.

On the other hand, such a pretentious display of anxious affirmation of ideology suggests a wonderful, underlying insecurity on the part of Christian fundies, reactionaries and fellow fascists of assorted stripes.

It is less about the fundies insecurities and more about the GOP insecurities. They are hoping that they can get the fundies on board the GOP express and detract from the mobs of people in the streets screaming about the inequitable system.

“in times of national challenge or tragedy, the people of the United States have turned to Godeach other and our government as their source for sustenance, protection, wisdom, strength, and direction.”

We’re united, for now, under threat of force. If the secessionists have their way and they have been fielding Presidential candidates getting various amounts of support and attention, maybe that will one day be addressed as well.

For many the graven image, money, has replaced the old great spirits. Seems a conversation they would welcome?

Yeah, that’s the big question. Can the GOP push the ideological narratives, the emotional issues, The Articles of Faith, and the supposed safety of authoritarian structures hard enough that those predisposed to such influences will forget their declining material conditions and side with The Bosses? It has certainly happened many times in the past. Plus, the left in the US doesn’t have much of a gratifying, positive, collective narrative to counter traditional aphorisms like “In God We Trust,” however empty and superficial they may be.

This is very important legislation for those who want to destroy America. It turns a free people with human dignity and enough self-esteem to resist into slavish curs who will meekly beg for the crumbs they do not deserve. It crushes independent spirit and institutes subjugation. Shredding the Constitution is very high on the agenda. But if you already bow your head to an unseen master or some ecclesiasty, you need not concern yourself with this. You were never a free human being anyway. So be grateful for the hunger pangs, they’re a gift from your GOD and his favored ministers on Earth.

Can they? It’s worked well for them for far more than a century! If it doesn’t trump all arguments and stifle all your objections, you’re a faithless, immoral monster. And if you whimper at your meager allotment, you’re an ungrateful whelp. And even if you do your best, well, you’re just a sinner anyway, you’re just not as humble and moral and forgiven and blessed as the wealthy. And the poorer the masses get, the hungrier they are for hope of redemption in an afterlife. The Great Experiment to raise humanity from misery is over, the rich are blessed and the poor despised, and all is well on God’s Earth.